While my ban on the Alabama Basketball program is still running strong, I still check in on them from time to time. To put it lightly, I was shocked to see the final score of 59-56 in favor of the Tide in tonight’s game against the Pigs, or Hogs, of Ar-kansas (credit Les Miles with that pronunciation). Maybe what was more shocking was the player of the game. It wasn’t the obvious choices of Richard Hendrix or Alonzo Gee. It wasn’t the occasional shooting spree by Mykal Riley. No, it was Demetrius Jemison. Jemison showed out (apparently) tonight going for 19 points and 11 boards. If I had to guess those are probably career highs, not sure though.
So what does this mean? I’m going to go with absolutely nothing. Well, in terms of this season it means nothing. However, every win that Alabama gets is a win for Gottfried as well. That’s a loss in my book. I want this guy gone, but Alabama won’t get rid of him as long as he keeps pulling games out of his rear.
What’s even more shocking about tonight’s game was the fact that Arky is head and shoulders above Alabama this year, especially as of late. The two teams have basically been polar opposites of each other, but as Chris Berman says, “That’s why they play the game.”
It is hard to root against your favorite team. Actually, it’s a terrible thing. I feel horrible about it. Coach Gottfried is a good guy, but a horrific hoops coach. Somebody in our athletic department…cough, Mal Moore…needs to do something about this guy. That’s the last I’m going to say about that.
Up next for the Tide (15-13, 4-9) is a road trip to Ole Miss on Saturday. We all know what a road game means; a big L. Oh well.
I’m not pulling against the basketball team, but right now, even a win still feels a bit like a loss. My fear is that we’ve reached the point where his job has slipped to a level of uncertainty where Moore, or really whoever makes these decisions, is now hoping that Gottfried gives them a reason to keep him on. Two more wins might do it.
I don’t understand how Moore can look at all those empty seats and think everything’s fine and dandy. At one time, Arky was our biggest rival in the West in bball, and we get about 5,000 people at the game last night. The buyout has to be the only thing keeping Gottfried there.
The reason for the win, CK? It was in Tuscaloosa. Home court advantage is HUGE in the SEC. HUGE.
Ghost, home court advantage is a big factor, but 5,000 people do not create a home court advantage. I’m not saying this was just a display of latent talent that we could have pulled out at any time this season. Failing to reach 60 points in a game you won by only three tends to indicate that Bama just screwed up less than Arkansas rather than used any advantage, home court or otherwise.
CD, that buyout is ridiculous. I know a couple years ago some schools made a gesture at hiring him away and we panicked and gave him that but it’s far more than it should be. Then again, at the time he was considered one of the better coaches in the league. Still, not 3 million better.